Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Pivot Insanity Why is Obama's SOS Ashton Carter Goading China?
Last edited Sat May 30, 2015, 03:58 PM - Edit history (2)
Mike Whitney
May 29, 2015 "Information Clearing House" - "Counterpunch" - US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is willing to risk a war with China in order to defend freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Speaking in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday, Carter issued his most forceful warning yet, demanding an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by China in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Carter said: There should be no mistake: The United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as we do all around the world. He also added that the United States intended to remain the principal security power in the Asia-Pacific for decades to come.
In order to show Chinese leaders whos the boss, Carter has threatened to deploy US warships and surveillance aircraft to within twelve miles of the islands that China claims are within their territorial waters. Not surprisingly, the US is challenging China under the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a document the US has stubbornly refused to ratify. But thats neither here nor there for the bellicose Carter whose insatiable appetite for confrontation makes him the most reckless Sec-Def since Donald Rumsfeld.
So whats this really all about? Why does Washington care so much about a couple hundred yards of sand piled up on reefs reefs in the South China Sea? What danger does that pose to US national security? And, havent Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines all engaged in similar land reclamation activities without raising hackles in DC?
Of course, they have. The whole thing is a joke. Just like Carters claim that hes defending the lofty principal of freedom of navigation is a joke. China has never blocked shipping lanes or seized boats sailing in international waters. Never. The same cannot be said of the United States that just recently blocked an Iranian ship loaded with humanitarian relieffood, water and critical medical suppliesheaded to starving refugees in Yemen. Of course, when the US does it, its okay.
The point is, Washington doesnt give a hoot about the Spratly Islands; its just a pretext to slap China around and show them whos running the show in their own backyard. Carter even admits as much in his statement above when he says that the US plans to be the principal security power in the Asia-Pacific for decades to come. China knows what that means. It means This is our planet, so youd better shape up or youre going to find yourself in a world of hurt. Thats exactly what it means.
So lets cut to the chase and try to explain whats really going on, because pretty soon no one is going to be talking about Ukraine, Syria or Yemen because all eyes are going to be focused on China where our madhatter Secretary of Defense is trying to start a third world war.
Heres the scoop: Washington has abandoned its China policy of containment and moved on to Plan B: Isolation, intimidation and confrontation. In my opinion, this is why the powerbrokers behind Obama dumped Hagel. Hagel just wasnt hawkish enough for the job. They wanted a died-in-the-wool, warmongering neocon, like Carter, who is, quite likely, the most dangerous man in the world.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41993.htm
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 866 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (7)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pivot Insanity Why is Obama's SOS Ashton Carter Goading China? (Original Post)
KoKo
May 2015
OP
fasttense
(17,301 posts)1. If the US were serious, we would stop doing business with China
But we continue to use China as an off shore labor camp because the uber rich still want all their riches.
yurbud
(39,405 posts)2. without a big enemy, there is no need for our big military
though China's military budget is about a sixth of ours and Russia's is even less.